Chapter 60: Fair
Ding!
[Trade recorded.]
[Loan Agreement: 500,000 coins.]
[Cosmic Value: 0]
[A pretty fair loan deal. Let’s see what you do with it.]
[Balance: 1]
Wade blinked at the notification. Zero?
For a moment, he thought there had been a mistake. But as he read the lines again, his brow furrowed in understanding.
It hadn’t been a profitable deal. It hadn’t been a loss either. It had been fair.
That was the essence of the Dimensional Ledger.
Cosmic Value Points weren’t granted for every trade, it depended on the balance of gain versus loss.
If Wade profited well beyond what the other party had given, he gained Cosmic Value.
If he was the one who lost, the points would be deducted.
In this case, with the loan and its attached contract, the risks and rewards balanced out.
No gain, no loss. Just even ground.
Still, Wade knew how important those points were.
The system had made it clear. Ten Cosmic Value Points equaled a Dungeon Key.
That was the true prize, the road to independence.
But the system also came with its own catch.
The more Dungeon Keys he acquired, the higher the threshold for the next.
Ten points for the first, twice as much effort for the second, four times more effort for the third. And so on.
In short, it was a ladder of diminishing returns.
So, while this loan was critical to his growth, it hadn’t brought him closer to his next key.
He would need to create deals that tipped the scales far more heavily in his favor. Deals like the one with the beekeeper.
"Now that business is concluded," Fairchild’s voice drew him back to the room, smooth as honey, "perhaps you’ll consider my other services?"
The man had a smile that looked so earnest and innocent, one would think he was a righteous trader.
"I have channels that can secure rare skill stones. Skills the guild itself won’t sell. And I procure certain... specialized equipment that one can’t find openly in Hiving’s market."
Wade kept his expression polite but shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, but not today. I’ll stick with what I have for now."
Besides, he’d soon be in control of rare skill stones of his own. He didn’t need rare stones now, when he was going to get them for free later.
Fairchild studied him for a moment, his smile never fading. "Prudent. I admire that."
He raised his glass of wine, giving a small toast. "Good luck, Wade Barrett. May fortune favor your ventures."
"Thanks." Wade returned the smile.
And with a final nod, he turned and left the study.
[][][][][]
The next morning, Wade was halfway through tightening the strap of his boots when he heard the sound of footsteps outside his door.
A second later, it was followed by a faint shadow falling across the small crack beneath it.
And before the knock could come, he stood, strode to the door, and swung it open.
Rowan stood there, fist still raised.
He blinked, then smirked. "Well, aren’t you a mind reader? I didn’t even get to knock."
Wade chuckled, slipping his key into the lock behind him and turning it until the bolt clicked. "Nah. I just knew someone would show up at the wrong time."
"Wrong time?" Rowan asked, falling into step beside him as they descended the narrow staircase. "Looks like perfect timing to me. Saves me bruised knuckles."
The morning air was a bit chilly as they stepped out into the street, the flow of adventurers and townsfolk moving like a river in either direction.
Wade adjusted his cloak, falling into stride beside Rowan.
"So," Rowan said, his tone casual, though his eyes flicked toward Wade with curiosity, "did you get it?"
"The loan?" Wade asked.
Rowan nodded once.
"I did." Wade’s lips curved into a faint smile. "And with no quest based late penalty fee."
Rowan gave a low whistle. "Fairchild must like you. Either that or he thinks he’s going to make a fortune off you."
"Probably both." Wade smirked.
For a moment, silence filled the air between them, broken only by the murmur of the crowd around them.
Then Wade asked, "What would you suggest? Gear, skills, the whole package. I need to make sure I spend this money right."
Rowan tilted his head. "Depends. What are you aiming for? Pure offense? Heavy defense? Support? Or..."
He trailed off, a grin creeping across his face. "An all-rounder?"
"That’s the idea," Wade said. "Something flexible. I don’t want to rely on one style and get cornered."
Rowan rubbed his chin thoughtfully as they walked. "Alright."
"For defense, you’ll need more than just armor. A solid breastplate will help, sure, but I’d suggest a shield too, preferably a loot shield."
"If you can find one with elemental resistance or impact absorption, even better."
"Got it," Wade said, mentally noting it down.
"For offense," Rowan continued, "you’ve already got a decent sword, but don’t ignore skills."
"Aim for at least one high-damage active skill. Something reliable that doesn’t drain all your mana in a single use."
"And if you can, a ranged skill. Something you can throw out when you don’t want to close the distance right away."
"Ranged, huh?" Wade said, considering.
"Mobility’s the next piece," Rowan said, ticking it off on his fingers. "You’ve got Mirror Step now, which is good. But you’ll want more."
"Something that helps you cross terrain, dodge attacks, or reposition fast. Those skills often cost a lot of mana, but they’re lifesavers."
"And utility?" Wade prompted.
"Ah, that’s the tricky one." Rowan chuckled. "Utility depends on what suits your style."
"Concealment skills, detection skills, healing skills, little tricks that don’t seem flashy but end up saving your life."
"For example, I’ve got a detection skill that helps me sense ambushes before they happen. It’s not glamorous, but it’s worth every coin."
Wade nodded slowly, running the categories through his head.
Defense, offense, mobility, and utility. Balance them out, don’t overspend in one area, make sure to cover weaknesses.
It was simple in theory, but the cost of skills and equipment made it a dangerous game.
"And," Rowan added, "don’t forget synergy."
"A random collection of strong skills is nothing if they don’t work together. Your Mirror Step already opens up opportunities. Build around that."
"That’s... actually good advice," Wade admitted with a grin. "Didn’t think you had it in you."
Rowan rolled his eyes. "Keep talking like that and I’ll charge you for consultation."
They shared a laugh, the guild’s building coming into view ahead.
It was time.